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N-Fab TiLUBE Yamaha X Games Report

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A weekend off in the AMA Pro Motocross Championship allowed N- Fab/TiLUBE/Yamaha rider Chris Blose to participate in the final X Games event of the year and the final time the event would call Los Angeles home. Having competed twice before in the X Games Moto X discipline – earning a pair of sixth place finishes in the process – Blose was looking to wrap up XGLA in style.

The tight track inside the Staples Center was much closer to an Arenacross-style layout than the wide open, natural terrain tracks Blose had been competing on all summer. The change in format didn’t seem to slow Blose down much as he charged hard throughout practice and qualifying, earning himself the fourth fastest qualifying time and a solid second place gate pick in the second heat race.

As the riders loaded the gate for the heat race, Blose selected the gate just inside of former Supercross champion Chad Reed. When the gate dropped it was Blose and Reed battling for the holeshot with Reed narrowly taking the advantage. Blose would get shuffled back to third place at the end of the first lap but never stopped charging. He would make the pass for second just before the halfway point and set his sights on Reed. Time would eventually run out but Blose would cross the line with a well deserved second place and top gate pick for the main event.

Blose decided to line up just to the outside of Reed for the main event, hoping the switch in gates would work in his favor. The duo was again battling for the holeshot but this time a miscalculation by Reed landed him off the track. Blose darted to the inside of the first turn, narrowly missing the holeshot, and filing in behind Josh Hill and Justin Brayton in third. Just as he did in the heat race, Blose began challenging for a position at the head of the pack, temporarily occupying the second place position for about a lap.

With five laps remaining in the 20-lap main event, Reed made his way back to the front of the pack and a four way battle for the lead ensued. There was a lot of heavy contact in the closing laps and things really got interesting when the white flag came out. With three corners remaining, Brayton made a move on Hill for the lead and Blose attempted to follow suit. He would make the pass but was unable to make it stick as Hill got back by in the following corner. Fortunately, Blose was able to defend his podium position to the line and earn himself his first X Games medal.

“This was an awesome night for me,” said Blose. “I really love this tight Arenacross type racing. For sure I am strong rider and have no problem with a little bumping and grinding. Qualifying went really well and getting good gate picks all night sure helps. My starts were good and things just seemed to click. X Games is such a special event and winning a bronze medal is something I will remember for the rest of my life.”

The N-Fab/TiLUBE/Yamaha team returns to the AMA Pro Motocross Championship next weekend at the Built Ford Tough Unadilla National in New Berlin, New York on August 10th. Be sure to stop by the N-Fab/TiLUBE/Yamaha truck to show your support and to have your picture taken with Chris Blose, Bob Kiniry and Phil Nicoletti from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. See you there!